Porcupines

Porcupines are found primarily in the western half of the U.S. and are
not a resident mammal in Cape Coral, Southwest Florida or any other area in the state.
However, The Wildlife Whisperer, Inc., has
experience working with beavers in other locations and we wanted to include some info on
them in case it might be helpful to residents in other areas of the country.

Basically, porcupines are round, slow moving rodents with quills instead of fur, scales or feathers.
They are typically shades of brown or grey in color. Porcupine quills protect them from predators,
such as your dog. Quills can be hazardous and
should be taken seriously, once stuck into something, they do not come out easily or quickly.
Knowledge and prevention are some of the first steps when it comes to porcupine control.

Porcupine Control

Porcupines are commonly found throughout the western half of the United States.
Porcupines weigh 11-36 pounds, and are approximately 24-37 inches long with an 8-10 inch tail.

Porcupines eat clover, bark, leaves, and herbs so they are considered herbivores. The North American porcupine;
as shown photographed below in Alva, Oklahoma, will climb trees in search of food. They are mostly nocturnal,
which means they move around mostly at night.

Porcupines As Nuisance Wildlife

Porcupines become a nuisance when your pets or an unsuspecting child are harmed.
Curious livestock such as horses and cattle, in search of a closer look, can also fall victim to a porcupine's quills.
They can also do a lot of damage in the yard when they tear it up looking for
food, and they can quickly kill a tree by eating it's bark off.
Like other rodents, porcupines have large teeth and a desire to chew, they can do a lot of damage inside a barn, shed or any
other where they can access beams, tools or wood.

The photo below illustrates how large and rodent-like a porcupine's teeth can be.
As with many other kinds of wildlife, having them around your home provides incentive for other wildlife to
come around too.

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Getting Rid Of Porcupines Around The House

Sometimes the best porcupine control
is simply putting barriers in place and making attractants around your home unavailable to them.

Porcupines are attracted to anything salty, including tool handles, clothing, doors, footwear and anything salt came
into contact with. Be aware of this when putting down salt in the winter for snow and ice.

Dig Defence Animal Control Commercial Grade can be a big help when it comes to
getting rid of porcupines around the house. Dig Defence prevents them from digging under
your foundation, deck or shed, so they will have to go elsewhere when searching for a place to make their den.

Dogs And Porcupines

Porcupines have a variety of defence mechanisms including sharp tipped quills,
teeth, claws, loud chattering noises they can make with their teeth,
and a strong unpleasant odor that intensifies when threatened.

Porcupines don't "throw" their quills, but
as part of their defence system, the quills "stand up" and easily release into invading or overly curious creatures.
Porcupines have even been known to try to back up toward their
enemy in an attempt to embed their quills into the threatening animal.

Curious dogs often learn the hard way just how painful a porcupine's quills can be, and quills embedded in your dog should
be taken very seriously. If you live in an area
where porcupines may be a hazard for your pet, please know that
porcupine quill removal is not something that can be done by just anyone, and if not properly removed your pet may suffer even more.

If your dog attacks a porcupine, before you start removing porcupine quills, consult your veterinarian and watch this
video about porcupine quill removal from a dog. This
poor girl had been on one of her first trips to the wilderness and her
first encounter with a porcupine did not go so well. Please note, the video is graphic and may be difficult for some to watch.

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Humane wildlife control, pest control and prevention, done right the 1st time.

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